Horror has always been the gateway genre for a large variety of filmmakers, and that’s what has led to the current YouTuber invasion of Hollywood. In recent years, those from the internet space have broken into the mainstream film industry, such as the Philippou Brothers with their wonderful horror hit, Talk To Me, and even video game YouTuber Seán McLoughlin (AKA Jacksepticeye) is producing a new movie at Sony based on PlayStation’s Bloodborne. However, this unique phenomenon has tripled in 2026, with Mark Fishbach‘s depth-defying Iron Lung, Curry Barker‘s recent indie mega-hit Obsession, and now 20-year-old Kane Parsons‘ feature film adaptation of his viral web series, Backrooms.
First released in January 2022, The Backrooms web series became a viral sensation for its found-footage brand of horror and unique world. The original chapter of the series currently has over 72 million views, so the fact that A24 stepped in to produce a full-fledged feature film is no surprise. Kane Parsons, at 20 years of age, managing to make an A24 movie with two renowned Oscar winners as its stars is impressive enough, but the additional note that the film is one of the year’s best horror movies makes an already admirable feat a true triumph.
What Is A24’s ‘Backrooms’ About?
Taking place during the 1990s, Backrooms is primarily the story of two individuals trying to move on from a checkered past. The first is Clark (Chiwetel Ejiofor) — a struggling furniture store owner who finds a portal to a hidden world that almost looks like an unused office space, but with all manner of bizarre sights like chairs melting into the floor and hallways that lead to nowhere. The second is Clark’s therapist, Mary (Renate Reinsve), who finds herself in these so-called “Backrooms” when Clark goes missing — but they both soon learn that they may not be the only ones lurking there.
From the get-go, Backrooms gets off to a fantastic start that will please hardcore fans of the original web series as well as horror fanatics itching for a memorable cold open. Director Kane Parsons opted not to make the entirety of the movie in a found footage format like the series that started it all, but the first ten minutes are recorded with a good old-fashioned ’90s-style camcorder. The result is one of the best first few minutes of a horror movie of the year, and a near-flawless tone-setter for the rest of the feature.
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“Let the festivities begin.”
A Backrooms movie also certainly wouldn’t be one without top-notch set design, and Longlegs production designer Danny Vermette once again proves why they are such a rising star in the horror world. Backrooms‘ liminal spaces and reliance on the fear of the unknown make for a wholly unique and claustrophobic horror setting, and one that, refreshingly, is lit with bright fluorescent lights rather than consistently shrouded in darkness like most of its peers. There is such an otherworldly feeling to the Backrooms, with everything looking like it comes from the real world, and yet, it has more than a few things that are just a little bit off, creating this almost uncanny valley type of feeling.
Renate Reinsve Is the Next Great Horror Movie Scream Queen
The Worst Person in the World, A Different Man, and Sentimental Value have already proven beyond a shadow of a doubt that Renate Reinsve is one of the best actors working today, and Backrooms gives the Oscar nominee something quite different with her first proper foray into an adaptation of a major IP. The Armand star steps into the world of sci-fi horror like a true natural, with every single acting choice adding more depth and dimension to the character. Seeing her go from a professional therapist to an unprofessional scream queen almost makes Backrooms feel like a twisted version of Apple TV’s Shrinking (which is fitting given that Shrinking star Lukita Maxwell is also part of the cast).
Doctor Strange franchise alum and 12 Years a Slave star Chiwetel Ejiofor also has a sizable role in the film, essentially functioning as the audience’s eyes and ears for this bizarre horror world. While Ejiofor is more used to big-budget epics, seeing him return to something smaller-scale but still very high-concept is a refreshing change of pace. Much like Reinsve, Ejiofor’s performance is one that gets better and better as the movie progresses — even if his character’s motivations are just a hint on the confusing side.
Yes, even a movie as mesmerizing and enchanting can’t escape the ever-ubiquitous horror trope of characters making stupid decisions. Ejiofor’s Clark is the most susceptible to this, as his fascination with the Backrooms is never really fully explained and largely seems to occur off-screen. It’s not that Backrooms needs to explain every minute detail. If anything, the mystery behind the entire movie is exactly what makes it so special. However, it does feel like there are portions between acts that could have been better explored had they taken place on-screen and added a bit more context to the already well-developed characters.
‘Backrooms’ Is a Masterclass in Building Suspense and Tension
Kane Parsons is the youngest director ever to direct an A24 movie, and yet his methodical approach to letting Backrooms breathe and take its time building up its suspense and scares requires the patience of masters in the genre. The slow burn of Alfred Hitchcock, the surreal visuals of David Lynch, and the human stakes of Stanley Kubrick are all on full display here, making for one of the unique and intriguing horror properties of the decade, let alone of the year. The slight stumble of the curious character decisions is comparatively small with the massive accomplishments that Backrooms achieves. Whether you’re a fan of the miniseries or are just discovering Kane Parsons’ wildly successful franchise for the very first time, Backrooms is a door that any horror fan should absolutely walk through.
Backrooms premieres in theaters on Friday, May 29, 2026.
- Release Date
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May 27, 2026
- Runtime
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110 minutes
- Director
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Kane Parsons
- Writers
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Will Soodik
- Producers
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Chris Ferguson, Dan Cohen, Dan Levine, James Wan, Jenno Topping, Kori Adelson, Michael Clear, Osgood Perkins, Peter Chernin, Roberto Patino, Shawn Levy
- Kane Parsons shows a marvelous sense for suspense and tension.
- Renate Reinsve and Chiwetel Ejiofor are both fantastic.
- Some of the year’s best production design.
- Some of the characters’ choice and decisions are hard to justify.
